Two-way bucket excavator.



M. G. BUNNELL.

TWO-WAY BUCKET EXCAVATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1909.

1,153,997. Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

- 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W T/VESSES 4 M. G. BUNNELL. TWO-WAY BUCKETYEXCAVATUR. APPLICATION FILEDMAR. 22. 1909.

PatentedSept. 21, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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firro/m/irs,

M. G. BUNNELL. TWO-WAY BUCKET EXCAVATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22.1909.

PatentedSept. 21, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W/TNESSZ'S M. G. BUNNELL.

TWO-WAY BUCKET EXCAVATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1909 11 1533997,PatentedSept. 21, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' To all whom it may concern:

0 is an enlarged and the adjacent portion of the runway,

an to.

MORTON G. BUNNELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK C.AUSTIN, OF

' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TWO-WAY BUCKET EXCAVATOR.

Specification of Ltters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

Application filed March 22, 1909. Serial N 0. 485,065.

Be it known that I, MORTON G. BUNNELL,

a citizen of the United States of America,

and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illi- 5 nois, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Two-Way Bucket Excavators, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to excavators of that character in which a bucketor scoop is arranged to travel back and forth on a track or runway, andin which at least a portion of the saidtrack or runway is adapted to belowered into the cut orexcavation, whereby the usual and well understoodmanner.

The object of my invention is the provision ofan improved bucket orscoop which operates back and forth on a runway extending across theditch, and that will gather a load by motion in either direction,whereby it is never under the necessity of traveling idle or without aload, and of such character that, notwithstanding its capability ofloading or excavating in either di rection, it is not necessarily longerthan the ordinary single bucket, thus obviating the necessity of usingeither two separatebuckets or a double bucket, and also obviating thenecessity of using a tilting or reversible bucket, all of which forms ofbucket excavator have proved to be more or less unsatisfactory, at leastunder some conditions, whereas with my improved arrangement the bucketis adapted to load in either direction, without changing its relation tothe runway, and is equipped with means for positively ejecting the loadfrom either end thereof, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

It is also an object to provide certain details and combinations tendingto increase,

5 my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forthand claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of anexcavator, embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2

side elevation of the bucket i Fig. 3 is a similar view, illustratingthe conthe bucket or scoop is held to its Work, in'

dition of the bucket just after the load has been dumped. Fig. 4 is asection on line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

As thus illustrated, the platform-like body A of the excavator may be ofany suitable, known or approved character. As shown, it is provided withwheels a adapted to travel on rails laid at opposite sides of the ditchor excavation B. At the front of the machine a V-shaped double runway Cis mounted for bodily up and down adjustment. For this purpose the saidrunway is carried on a vertical guide 0 adapted to slide up and downuponthe post or standard a suitably supported or carried on the body ofthe excavator. This runway, it will be seen, is adapted to determine thecontour or cross sectional outline of the ditch. At the left this runwayis provided with a swinging outer end section D, and at its right with asimilar section E. These swinging outer end runway sections aresupported at their outer ends by links or braces 03 and e, which latterhave their .upper ends pivoted upon a cross piece a secured to the upperend of the post or standard a, as illustrated. The two-way bucket F isprovided with wheels f that travel in the grooves or tracks of therunway. The arrangement is preferably such that these wheels can move upand down in the said tracks of the runway, whereby the bucket can tiltin either direction sufliciently to load. When it travels to the left,then its cutting edge or lip f rises slightly, and its cutting edge orlip f is depressed, whereby a load is gathered. The bucket is tiltedslightly in the other direction when it moves to the right. The saidbucket is provided with a movable end wall f secured at its upper end toa set of angle irons 7, which slide on guides f rigidly secured to uppercross members f of the bucket. Thus the end wall f can slide from oneend to the other of the bucket, its motion relative to the bucket beingsuitably limited in each direction, as by some suitable stop device..The said movable wall has a middle post 7" that extends upwardly. Atthe left hand end of the bucket it is provided at its top with a camblock which is at the near side of the longitudinal center line of thebucket. At its other end, and at the far side of the longitudinal centerof the bucket, it is provided with a similar cam block f- I post 7 guide0.

The runway section D is provided with an overhead support d, consistingpreferably of a pair of channel irons arranged close together andsupported by cross bars 0?, carried on the runway. A hook f is pivotedto the said support d at its outer end, as by a pivot f, and its inneror free end is held against excessive movement by a chain f. Theshoulder f of said hook is adapted to engage the right hand side of thepost 7" of the movable wall of the bucket, as shown in Fig. 2. Thesupport d is provided with a series of holes d whereby the pivot f ofthe hook can be moved along the length of the runway, thus varying thedistance from the side of the machine at which the load can bedischarged. When the bucket runs out to the left of the machine shown inFig. 1, it passes the hook f and then when its motion is reversed the ofthe movable end Wall f engages the said hook, in the manner shown inFig. 2. Then when the bucket is started on its return movement to theright hand side of the machine, the end wall f remains stationary, beingheld by the hook, and the bucket itself moves forward, thus dischargingthe load from the left hand end or mouth of the bucket, as shown in Fig.3. For this purpose, an operating cable or other connection G is securedby links 9 to the right hand end of the bucket. A similar operating lineor connection H is secured by links it to the left hand end of thebucket, as shown in the drawings. These operating cables or connectionsare arranged over sheaves g and h on the outer ends of the runways E andD, respectively, and are arranged to travel one at a time over thesheave c on the lower end of the The said cables or operatingconnections are then arranged over sheaves I at the top of theframe-work or superstructure of the machine, and are then brought downto drums or windlasses J and K. These drums or windlasses are operatedby the engine L, and a boiler-NI furnishes the steam for the saidengine. The boiler and engine and rotary drums are all suitably carriedon the body or platform A of the machine.

The runway E has a support e, similar to the support 01, and is providedwith a hook e similar to the hook f". It will be understood, of course,that the hook e is pivoted at its outer end, and has its free inner endadapted to engage the post f, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus when the bucketis drawn to the right hand end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, itpasses the hook 6 and then when its motion is reversed, its movable endwall is caught and held by the said hook. The bucket then continues itsmovement toward the center of the machine, and in so doing the load isdischarged from the right hand end or mouth of the bucket.

lVhen the bucket is hand end of the machine, it is finally released fromthe hook f by engagement of the cam block f with the cam f on the sideof the said hook. In this way the end wall of the bucket is heldstationary just long enough to enable it to discharge the load from theleft hand end of the bucket, and then the hue :et is freed entirely fromthe hook f wit the result that it is then in condition to gather a loadas it travels down into the ditch and toward the right hand side of themachine. After the bucket has discharged its load at the right hand sideof the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, then it is freed from the hook'e bythe engagement of the cam block 9 with a cam similar to the cam f,except that in this case such cam is on the far side of the hook 6instead of on the near side, as shown in Fig. 2. In this way one hookhas a cam on its front side, while the other hook has a cam on its backor rear side. It is with reference to this arrangement that the camblocks f and f are arranged at opposite sides of the longitudinal centerof the bucket, as well as opposite ends thereof. As stated, the buckettilts down at one end and up at the other when it moves in onedirection, and then tilts in a similarmanner in the opposite directionwhen it travels to the other side of the machine, whereby the'lip oredge which must do the cutting is always slightly depressed below thelip or edge that is traveling idle or behind. i The support 6 has aseries of pivot or bolt holes similar to the holes d in the support 0!,whereby the load of the bucket may be discharged at the right hand sideof the machine shown in Fig. 1. Thus the load can be discharged ateither side of the machine, and at a varying distance from either 'sideof the machine. Only a single bucket is used,'but it does not tilt orturn over to dump, and it does not turn around when it is required toload in the opposite direction. Notwithstanding that the bucket willload in either direction, it is not necessarily of greater length thanwhereby it is, notwithstanding the two-way character of the machine,well calculated to do the excavating in the usual and well known manner,and without interfering with the desired cross sectional contour oroutline thereof. Thus a single bucket is made to do the work of twobuckets, and this is accomplished without making the bucket of doublelength, and without causing it to tilt or turn around when its motion isreversed. Furthermore, its load is positively and forcibly discharged,so that it is adapted to work in all kinds of soil and give gendumped atthe left a varylng distance from the ordinary single bucket,

eral satisfaction for varying conditions and circumstances.

Suitable provision is made for holding the runway C at different pointsin its up ward motion thereof after passing said catch, means forvarying the position of said catch on the runway, and means on thebucket to engage said catch, for releasing said mechanism.

2. An excavator comprising a bucket or scoop, 'a runway therefor, amovable back therefor, means including clutch mechanism having a catchlocated at a predetermined point on the runway for operating said back 1to expel the load from the bucket by the backward motionthereof afterpassing said catch, means for varying the position of said catch on therunway, and means on the bucket to engage said catch for releasing saidmechanism.

3. An excavator comprising a bucketor scoop, a runway therefor, anejector there for, means including clutch mechanism hav ing a catchlocated at a predetermined point on the runway for operating saidejector by the backward motion of the bucket after passing said catch,means for varying the position of said catch on the runway, and means onthe bucket to engage said catch for releasing said mechanism.

4. An excavator comprisin a scoop, a movable back there or, a supporthaving a hook for causing the back to stand still while the bucket movesbackward,

bucket or means for holding'said support stationary adjacent the path oftravel of the bucket,

means for adjusting the hook in different positions to vary the dumpingposition, and means on the bucket for automatically releasing the saidhook when the load is entirely discharged.

5. An excavator comprising a runway provided with a hook, a bucket orscoop adapted to travel on said runway, a movable back for said bucketor scoop, means on the back adapted to be can ht and held by the saidhook, means for a justing the hook in diiferent positions to vary thedumping position, and means on the bucket for engaging said hook torelease the same from the back.

6. The combination, in an excavator of the character disclosed, of abucket or scoop, a movable back therefor, a runway for the bucket orscoop, means including clutch mechanism having a catch supported on therunway for operating said back to expel the load from the bucket by thebackward motion thereof after passing said catch, means for supportingthe runway in position for holding the said bucket or scoop down in .theditch or excavation, means above'ground for changing the position ofsaid catch on the runway, and means on the bucket to engage said catchfor automatically releasing said mechanism.

7. The combination, in an excavator of the character disclosed, of abucket or scoop, a movable back therefor,.a support having a hook forcausing the back to stand still while the bucket moves backward, meansfor holding said support stationary adjacent the path of travel of thebucket, means for automatically releasing the said hook when the 'loadis entirely discharged, and a runway for holding the said bucket orscoop down in the ditch or excavation.

8. The'improved excavator, comprising a runway and bucket thereon, anend wall for the bucket, a hook adjustably' pivoted on the runway, forholding the said wall stationary to dump the load, and means on thebucket for releasing said hook, substantially as shown and described.

9. An excavator comprising a runway, a bucket mounted to travel back andforth on said runway, said bucket having a movable wall for expellingthe load, a catch on the runway for holding said wall stationary whilethe bucket moves a distance in the reverse direction, after reachingdumping position, means on the bucket for automatically disengaging saidcatch from said wall, and means for operating said bucket, said catchcomprising a pivoted hook, and a cam on said hook, to engage said meanson the bucket.

10. An excavator comprising a runway, a bucket mounted to travel backand forth on said runway, said bucket having a movable wallfor'expelling the load, a catch on the runway for holding said wallstationary while the bucket moves a distance in the reverse direction,after reaching dumping po sition, means on the bucket" for automaticallydisengaging said catch from said wall, means for operating said bucket,said catch comprising a hook pivoted on the runway, and means forlimiting the downward movement of said hook.

11. An excavator comprising a runway, a bucket mounted to travel backandforth on said runway, said bucket having a movable wall for expellingthe load, a catch on the runway, for holding said wall stationary whilethe bucket moves a distance in the re verse direction, after reachingdumping position, means engaging the free end of said catch to limit thedownward motion thereof, means on the bucket for automaticallydisengaging said catch from said wall, and means for operating saidbucket, the said bucket having tracks for said wall.

12. An excavator comprising a bucket or scoop having a cutting edge ateach end thereof, a runway down in the ground, wheels for the oppositeends of said bucket, traveling on said runway, draft connections for thebucket, said runway having clearance for the tops of the wheels,cooperating with said connections to cause the bucket to tilt downwardat either mouth thereof while operating in the ground, and means foroperating said connections to move the bucket back and forth on saidrunway.

18. An excavator comprising a bucket or scoop having a cutting edge ateach end thereof, a runway for holding said bucket down in the ground,wheels for the opposite ends of said bucket, traveling on said runway,draft connections for the bucket, said runway having clearancefor thetops of the wheels, cooperating with said connections for holding saidbucket" to cause the bucket to tilt downward -at either mouth thereofwhile operating in the ground, and means for operating said connectionsto move the bucket back and forth on said runway, said connections beingabove the axes of the wheels.

14. An excavator comprising a bucket or scoop having a cutting edge ateach end thereof, a runway for holding said bucket down in the ground,wheels for the opposite ends of said bucket, traveling on said runway,draft connections for the bucket, said runway having clearance for thetops of the wheels, cooperating with said connections to cause thebucket to tilt downward at either mouth thereof while operating in theground, and means for operating said connections to move the bucket backand forth on said runways, said connections extending above the axes ofthe wheels and each having a fixed point of attachment at one month ofthe bucket.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 12th day of March 1909.

MORTON G. BUNNELL. \Vitnesses:

CLARENCE E. TAYLOR,

J. NORBY.

